Criminal Justice Commission

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Minutes of the Special Meeting of July 19, 2023

The Honorable Andrew J. McDonald, Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:04 a.m.

In addition to Justice McDonald, participating in the meeting were: The Honorable Melanie L. Cradle, Attorneys Robert Berke, Reginald Dwayne Betts, Scott Murphy and Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin.

Attorney Murphy moved to accept the minutes of the May 15, 2023 meeting. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Justice McDonald said the Commission was to interview candidates for three positions of Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Appellate Bureau and three positions at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Civil Litigation Bureau.

Deputy Chief State’s Attorney Kevin D. Lawlor and Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Timothy Costello and Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist Janice duFrend were present to participate in the interviews of candidates for Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney.

Attorney Murphy moved to enter into executive session to discuss candidates for the positions. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The executive session began at 9:08 a.m.

The executive session ended at 3:18 p.m. Justice McDonald announced that no motions were made or votes taken during the executive session. Attorney Murphy moved to approve Raynald Carre, Alexander Kambanis and Kellie Rivera for conditional appointments as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Appellate Bureau. The appointments will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individuals selected have successfully completed background checks and that no adverse findings were found in the background checks which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individuals selected to serve as prosecutorial officials within the Division of Criminal Justice. Chief State’s Attorney Griffin seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin moved to approve Jennifer Fields and Lora Holtz-Czarnecki for conditional appointments as Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, Civil Litigation Bureau. The appointments will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individual selected has successfully completed a background check and that no adverse findings were found in the background check which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individual selected to serve as a prosecutorial official within the Division. Attorney Murphy seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Chief State’s Attorney Griffin moved to approve Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys Maria Tougas and Michael J. Errichetti for conditional appointments as Special Deputy Assistant State’s Attorneys.

The appointments will be effective upon the Chief State’s Attorney certifying to the Commission that the individual selected has successfully completed a background check and that no adverse findings were found in the background check which would call into question the fitness and suitability of the individual selected to serve as a prosecutorial official within the Division. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 There being no further business, Chief State’s Attorney Griffin moved to adjourn the meeting. Judge Cradle seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.